site.btaUPDATED Sofia Hosts Forum on Strengthening Defence, Democracy

The Fortifying Freedom: Defence and Democracy Dialogue forum, organized by the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), took place on Tuesday at the Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel. The event brought together policymakers, security experts, and civil society leaders to discuss strategic decisions shaping Europe’s next decade amid growing global instability.

Opening the conference, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will take a decisive step toward completing its European integration, a process pursued with determination since 1989. He emphasized that only united democracies can withstand the multiple threats they face, identifying the war in Ukraine as the clearest manifestation of the global divide between Western democracies and revisionist powers such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Zhelyazkov underlined Bulgaria’s role on NATO’s and the EU’s front line, stressing the need to build democratic partnerships and defend Ukraine’s European future.

Ingrid Schulerud, Norway’s Special Representative on Democracy and the Rule of Law, warned that democracy cannot exist without civil society, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. She called for a comprehensive European strategy to counter global democratic backsliding, noting that the share of the world’s population living in democracies has fallen from 51% in 2004 to 28% today.

CSD Chair Ognian Shentov said that defence and democracy can no longer be viewed separately. He argued that protecting democracy must become a core element of defence policy and that the strength of institutions is as vital to national security as military capacity. Shentov also pointed to Europe’s pursuit of technological sovereignty as a defining factor in safeguarding its democratic way of life.

NATO Deputy Spokesperson Claire Craanen, former Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev, and Bulgaria’s Permanent Representative to NATO Nikolay Milkov addressed Europe’s security challenges. Craanen described the current era as one of confrontation, with Russia posing “the most immediate and persistent threat” to NATO security. She highlighted the Alliance’s transformation since 2014 and its reinforced presence on the Eastern flank, including in Bulgaria. Tagarev underscored that societal resilience and countering disinformation are key to preventing conflict.

Juris Poikans, Latvia’s Special Envoy for Ukraine Reconstruction and the Baltic Sea Region, and Zlatin Krastev, Bulgaria’s Cyber Ambassador, stressed the need to sustain and increase support for Ukraine, both militarily and financially, as the country continues to face immense pressure on the battlefield.

National Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva warned that recent crises have led to emergency measures that risk normalizing restrictions on fundamental freedoms. She voiced concern over growing pressure on the judiciary and media freedom in parts of Europe and the stigmatization of civil society organizations.

Iliana Ivanova, member of the European Court of Auditors, and former justice minister Krum Zarkov discussed the erosion of public trust caused by weak accountability and the lack of transparency in governance. Ivanova said that effective oversight and measurable goals are essential for responsible government, while Zarkov stressed that control mechanisms lose meaning without integrity in their implementation.

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov reaffirmed that Bulgaria remains a democracy, albeit with its own challenges. He rejected claims that the country is a “captured state”, emphasizing that despite political turbulence, power has changed hands peacefully and attempts at institutional capture have been resisted.

Addressing a panel on inequality, urban communities, and environmental action at the Fortifying Freedom: Defence and Democracy Dialogue conference, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said that honest and open communication with citizens is crucial for the effective implementation of long-term environmental and urban policies.